Nov 20

Nov 20 'Tis the season for a western North Carolina Christmas tree

Clarence-Vernon Hargrave, Columns, Davidson County, Davidson Local, Holidays

Hurricane Helene left a path of destruction in western North Carolina that is expected to take years to recover from. The financial ramifications of rebuilding whatever areas that are salvageable is estimated to be near $53 billion dollars and the damage from the hurricane has been called the worst storm damage in the history of the state.

This year for Christmas, for the first time in years, I will be purchasing a live Christmas tree to decorate my home. I was an advocate for the use of artificial Christmas trees before I understood the entire industry that has been built and is operated specifically in the state of North Carolina for Christmas tree farming. North Carolina is the second largest producer of cut Christmas trees in the United States, behind Oregon. The state's Christmas tree crop is estimated to be worth around $100 million annually. The Fraser fir is the primary type of Christmas tree grown in western North Carolina and over 99.4% of the state.

Ashe County alone is the largest Christmas tree producing county in the United States and has approximately 12,000 acres of Christmas trees in production amounting to approximately 20 million trees. There are also numerous thriving Christmas tree farms in these counties:

Alleghany
Avery
Watauga
Jackson

Mitchell
Yancey
Madison
Transylvania
Buncombe
Macon.

Purchasing a Christmas tree from or supplied by any of the farms in the hurricane devastated area will help the farmers and the communities that are in need of help as they face their most challenging season ever. There has been a reported total of over 250 thousand North Carolina Christmas trees that were lost as a result of the storm.

If you have never had a live Christmas tree you are in for a treat, if you care for it properly. I love that live trees fill your rooms with the nostalgic scent of pine, which is perfect for the holidays.

Dr. Gary Chastagner and Dr. Eric Hinesley of the National Christmas Tree Association recommend the tips below on how to care for your fresh, farm grown Christmas tree. The most important tip of all is to use lots of water and to always keep your tree well hydrated. When a Christmas tree is cut, it requires more than half its weight in water to maintain the quality of the tree.

Here is how to care for your live North Carolina farm raised Christmas tree:

Displaying trees in water in a traditional reservoir type stand is the most effective way of maintaining their freshness and minimizing needle loss problems.
To display the trees indoors, use a stand with an adequate water holding capacity for the tree. As a general rule, stands should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. Devices are available that help maintain a constant water level in the stand.
Use a stand that fits your tree. Avoid whittling the sides of the trunk down to fit a stand. The outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed.
Make a fresh cut to remove about a 1/2-inch thick disk of wood from the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand. Make the cut perpendicular to the stem axis. Don’t cut the trunk at an angle, or into a v-shape, which makes it far more difficult to hold the tree in the stand and also reduces the amount of water available to the tree.
Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does NOT improve water uptake.
Once home, place the tree in water as soon as possible. Most species can go 6 to 8 hours after cutting the trunk and still take up water. Don’t bruise the cut surface or get it dirty. If needed, trees can be temporarily stored for several days in a cool location. Place the freshly cut trunk in a bucket that is kept full of water.
The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important and does not affect water uptake.
Check the stand daily to make sure that the level of water does not go below the base of the tree. With many stands, there can still be water in the stand even though the base of the tree is no longer submerged in water.
Keep trees away from major sources of heat (fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, direct sunlight). Lowering the room temperature will slow the drying process, resulting in less water consumption each day.
Use of lights that produce low heat, such as miniature lights, will reduce drying of the tree.
Always inspect light sets prior to placing them on the tree. If worn, replace with a new set.
Do not overload electrical circuits.
Always turn off the tree lights when leaving the house or when going to bed.
Monitor the tree for freshness. After Christmas or if the tree is very dry, remove it from the house.
Visit the Tree Recycling page to find a recycling program near you.
Never burn any part of a Christmas tree in a wood stove or fireplace.

If you purchase a tree with the roots attached, either in a pot or in burlap, follow the following suggestions:

The adaptability of the species should be considered. Many species are shipped outside of their natural area and may not be adaptable to other areas. Check with a reliable nursery or extension forester.
Keep in mind that Living Trees are VERY heavy and bulky. A six foot tall balled and burlapped tree will weigh as much as 250 pounds.
The tree should be stored in an unheated, sheltered area such as a garage or porch, out of the wind and sun. Do not expose the tree to freezing temperatures at any time.
The tree will need adequate water. The root ball or soil should be kept slightly damp but not flooded. Wrap the root ball of a balled tree in plastic or place in a tub while it is in the house.
Live trees may be decorated, but with care. If lights are used, they must not give off any heat.
Do not remove the tree directly from a warm house out into freezing temperatures. Instead, move to a sheltered area first for several days.
If the ground is unfrozen, the tree may be replanted. The spot to be dug should be mulched to prevent freezing. Plant as soon as possible.
Do not remove the burlap and strapping (unless it is plastic). This keeps the root ball solid and secure. In the instance of a plastic cover, cut the cord and roll down the plastic at least half way prior to planting. Tap the tree container of a potted tree and remove prior to planting. Do not attempt to remove soil from the root system. Earth removed from the original hole should be back-filled around the root ball. Mulch heavily over the top of the planted root ball to prevent it from freezing. Water only as needed: a flooded tree may not survive.
Stake the trees to prevent wind tipping or damage during the first growing season.

Celebrate this holiday season with style and help save Christmas tree farms in western North Carolina at the same time. Creating the tradition of using a live tree and supporting local farms.